Four-wheel equalized traction unit



1927. 1,621,225 May 3 E. H. BABELETAL Y FOUR-WHEEL EQUALIZED TRCTION UNIT Filed uaonzs. '1924 6 She ets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY,

May 3 1927.

E. H.'BABE| ET Ay.

FOUR-WHEEL EQUAIJIZED TRACTINv UNIT Filed March 29; 1924 6 Sheets-Shed'. 2

- @zal l? I @Me/o IN-VENTORS ATTORNEY;

1,627,225 May ,3" 1927 E. H. BABE-L ET AL FOUR-WHEEL EQUALIZED TRACTION UNIT -med March 29. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mf @mi EQCZ d @Ide/Z INVENTOR@ I x '5 ATTORNEY.

IMay 3, 1927,

- E. H. BABEL E'r A1. Foumwrmm. EQ'ALIz-ED TRACTION UNIT- 6 Sheelts-Sheet 4 Fi'leduarcn 29. 1924 JZ OJJe/LINVENTORJ: l

ATTORNEY.

Mayr 3 1927.

. 1,627,225 E. H. BABEL ET AL FOUR-WHEEL EQUALIZED TRAGTION UNIT Filed March 29. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 erm?) INVENTORJ' Ma 3 1927. y Y E. H. BABEL ET AL FOUR-WHEEL EQUALIZED TRACTION UNIT Filed March 29, 192 e sheets-sheet 6 I NV EN TORSJ BY *W "ATTORNEY n, well known of( universal joint advantages; to provlde means for producing 'Patented May 3, 1927.

j UNITED `STAT Es Param'A OFFICE.

numana. BABnL, or oAnLANn, AND nIcIIAaD L. owEN, or vnNIcn, CALIFORNIA;

SAID BABEL ABSIGNOR TO SAID OWEN.

roca-WHEEL neUALIzaD rnAc'rIoN UNIT.

Application mea :met as, 1924. seal No. 702,938.

`Our invention' relates generally to vehicles, and more vparticularly to a four wheel equalized traction `unit that is especially designed forcuse in driving motor vehicles and particularly those vehicles that are engaged in carrying relatively heavy zloads, he principal objects of our invention being, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the, exist-ing forms of vehicle driving traction units; to provide a` const ction that will Carr a much eaten load than is ordinari yv `possible with the ordi-nary types of -four wheeled trucks or load carrying vehicles; further to r carry the relatively heavy loads with relatively lower depreciation and consequent cost per ton mile, and, further, to, carry 4the relatively heavier loads with less wear and tear on' the surface of the *roadway or pavement, which desirable result is attained through lower unit tire pressure.'

Further objects of our invention are to provide' a vehicle 'driving traction-unit of the character described that will be eiective in reducing toaminimu'm the unsprung weight in the shape ofthe heavy'axle thatv is necessary to the vehicle in carrying heavy loads; to provide `al construction lwherein each wheel is mounted so that it has true vertical action independently of the other wheels;V to rovide y,for the elimination of all torsiona y stresses4 in the springs,` that forma part of the unit; to provide for la straight line drive withoutfthe employment s'\and their attendant disequalized and independent` driving effort for ,each wheetof. the unit; to eliminate the y diiliculties and -com lexties ordinarily encouhtered in the en eavor to produce alow floor line forthe vehicle; tojprovide a construction that isrelatively simple et strong and durable and readily accessib e for the purposes of inspection, atustment andrepxinand further, vto provi e a trctionunit, *In which;v standardization may be. accomplished. through the adoption and use o f p and readily obtainable"'parts, such as axles, brakes, hubs and springs. l .The accomplishment ofthe ob]ects above enumerated permits the production, of a practical load carrying vehicle whichfin operation, is.I effective in materially reducing lhighway deterioration that may result from overloadingor high unit tirepressure, as

, well as the deterioration that results from excessive unspruno weight, which latter, 1n combination with even the fairly low speed ofload carrying, trucks, creates impact that is more or less destructive to the surface of the highway. Since this impact increases with the nare of the speed .at

which the truck is drlven, it will be readily understood that a truck makinga return trip after having delivered a load imposes a smaller unit load on thehighwayayet by virtue of this reduction in load the truck is enabled to 'proceed at a cdrrespondingly greater s eed with the attendant greater impact on t e roadway surface.`

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain novel features ,ofconstruction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and 'illustrated in the accompanying drawings in` which:

Fi'g. 1- 1s a top plan view of one side of our improved traction unit.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking against the inner face of one of the side members of the traction unit. i c Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken ap roximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. ig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

,Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one side of with the trac- -'Fig. .8""is a vertical rsectiqn. takenyon the e line 8'f-8 of Fig. 7.

f "Filil is a vdetail section taken` 'on the line .9`of Fig. 7,.,l f

al 'lan` v1ew,'with partsfin Ilug drawings, which vwhich is in the form unlt.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view part-lyin section, of a differential mechanism that may be used with our improved traction unit.

Fig. 13 is a cross sect-ion taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12. v v Referring by numerals to the accompanyillustrate a practical embodimntof our invention, 10 designates the main cross member of the traction unit, of a combined axle and differential 'gear housing, the ends thereof being provided with horizontally disposed cylindrical trunmons 11 that may be formed integral with or fixed to the end portions of said member 1 0. The axle members 12 that are contained within housing 10 extend axially through` and 'a substantial distance beyond thev trunnions 11,A said axle members carrying thel usualsleeves 13. The cross member or axle used in our improved traction unit is preferably of a standard typethatis readllyobtainablf/g in the open market.

Formed integral with or fixed to the inner portions'of the trunnions 11 are upwardly projecting brackets 17 that serve as seats and points of attachment forvthe side members 18 of the vehicle frame. Mounted so as to 'rotate freely upon each trunnion 11 are the inner ends offa pair of spring arms 19, the same' projecting horizontally in opposite directions from the trunnion. Mounted to rotate freely upon each trunnion between the inner ends of these spring varms is a spring supporting member 20 carrying at its upper end a seat 21 to which is secured the intermediate portion of ahorizontally dis osed leaf spring 22. The ends of this lea s ring are connected to the end portions o the respective spring arms 19V by means of suitable shackles 23. fIn some instances, it may be found desirable to dispense with these shackles and permit the ends of the spring to bear directlyupon the ends of the spring arms or uponfsuitable bearings formed thereon.

The outer end of eachA spring arm is formed with a lsubstantially rectangular opening 24, .and those portions of the arm immediately above and below, each opening serve as ways or bearing ymembers 25 for a cross-head-like structure comprising blocks 26,' the latter serving as a bearing for a short transversely disposed shaft 27,- a portion of the latter being projected outwardly to form-a stub axle 28 upon which is mounted a hub portion of a traction, wheel 29.

Vinner or hub portions 39 'These traction wheels are preferably ofl standard construction and provided on their inner faces with brake drums 30, in which are arranged for operation a standard. form of expanding brake. These internal brakes` may be actuated in any suitable manner, but

preferably by a standard form of mechanism that is mounted on brackets 31 that project from suitable points on the blocks 26 vis a lock nut 33, which, when tightened,

locks the screw 32 against vmovement in lboth directions. I

`The construction just described provides simple and;eiiicient means for adjusting the stub axles 28 toward or away from the-axis of trunnions 11, thereby taking up or producing the desired degree of slack in the sprocket chains utilized vfor driving the wheels 29.

\Obviously lthis feature is not em loyed where the traction wheels are gear d)riven. A nut 27, -is screw seated on the outer end of the shaft 27 and, when tightened, cooperates with said shaft in drawing blocks 26 together to clamp the ways 25 and thereby lock said blocks in their adjusted position.

The' traction wheel driving mechanism includes 'a hub member 34 that is mounted to rotate freely upon suitable anti-friction bearings 35 that surround sleeve 13, and formed integral with or fixed to the outer portion of said hub'is an external or service brake drum A36.,- Secured in any suitable `manner tothe endof axle 12 that projects beyond sleeve 13 andbearing 35 is a. hub cap 37 that is/eennected in any suitable manner to brake drum v36.

Encircling brake drum 30 is ap standard form of contracting brake 36, the parts of which are anchored to a bracket 36b that projects outwardly from trunnion l11 or a part that is secured thereto, this brake being provided with suitable actuating mechanism.

- Mounted for free independent rotary movement upon hub 34 between flangesl 38 that are formed on said hub, are the widened of sprocket wheels 40, thatare equal in size. In order to enable these sprocket wheels, to be assembled in position said sprocket wheels may be splitvor divided` diamet-rically and the two parts of each wheel rigidly secured to each other after being positioned upon the hub. The brake drums 30 on the wheels 29 are each provided with an externally arranged row of sprocket teeth to form a sprocket wheel 41, and these lli upon hub 34 between flanges 38,

lao j last mentioned sprocket wheels are in alignment, respectively, with the sprocket wheels 40. Connecting the respective pairs f of sprocket wheels 4() and 41 are sprocket driving 'chains 42. y

The inner portions of the widened hubs 39 of the sprocket wheels 40 are recessed to form a common annular `chamber 43 that receives an outwardly projecting portion 44 of the hub 34, and arcuate portions of this projecting hub member .44 are cut away to provide straight flat bearing surfaces 45. The chamber 46 that is formed by thus cutting away a ortion of hub member 44 constitutes an e ongated cage for apair yof rollers 47, there being one roller, or rather one set'of rollers for each sprocket wheel, and one pair of rollers for each cage or chamber 46. Projecting from the inner faces of friction rings or plates into the chamber 46 are pairs of lugs 48, the members of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the corresponding roller 47, and the inner ends of these lugs 48 are provided with overlapping shoulders'49`." The rollers 47 have a certain amount of play, or movement circumferentially of the sprocket hubs between the members of the respective pairs of lugs 48 and the overla ing shoulders 49 on the inner ends of sai lhgs are s aced a lsuilicient distance apart to permit t e lugs on the plates or rings 50 to have a certain amount of independent circumferential movement. The friction rings or plates 50 are arranged within the annular chambers that are formed in the hub portions ofthe sprocket wheels and said rings are forced into frictional engagement with the hub portions of the s rocket wheels by that are seate `in apertures 52, t e latter being formed in the projecting portion 44 of hub 34. Arranged between each pair of plugs is an expanslve coil spring 52a. As a result of this construction, the degree of frictional contact between the plates or rings 50 and the hub wheels is equalize I The width of each chamberA 46 at the center is slightly greater than 'the diameter ofthe rollers 47, and as the width of the chamber 46 gradually decreases in both directions it will be seen that as a roller moves toward either end of the chamber 46 it will exert a wedging action between the corresponding sprocket wheel and the corresponding fiat surface 45v of hub member 34.

4 The parts just vdescribed constitute a drivt mg mechanism which equalizes the driving effort between the wheels of the traction unit since it involves the dierence of movement' and'travel between the two sides of the vehicle While negotiating curves, as well as the equalization--of movement and action between the two wheels operating in tandem on each of the two sides.

ortions ofA the sprocket 4 The obtained effects of vour improved fstructure, may be likened somewhat to a companion wheel continues to drive. When the occasion for such conditions is past and the speed of the over-running wheel passes to that of its companion, said over-running wheel immediately resumes its tractive efforts. Obviously this condition exists and the same action takes place in the companion wheel.

When the hub 34 rotates forwardly, the action is equivalent to revolving the sprocket rearwardly, and this drags the roller cage which is in frictional contact with the driven element or sprocket through the. plates 50, wedging the rollers between the hub and sprocket thusl transmitting the drivin effort..

Obvlousl'y, any increase in the speed of the sprocket over that of the hub, will drag the rollers out 'of weighing contact until the algs of the cage 48 strike the lugs of the y jacent cage. The vcage is thus arrested in'mid-position and the rollers will then float idly between the hub, sprocket and lugs, permitting the sprocket to over run.

Reversal of the vehicle, or the use of the engine as a brake, is permitted`by the concerted Vaction of both sprockets, which throws both cages over` to the other side.

In the gear driven form of tractor unit, illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the equalizing mechanism, including the rollers, their cages and the friction rings or disks, is preferably arranged in the driving axle housing between said axle and housing 53 that are l,formed on a shaft 54 and sleeve 55, said bers 19 that constitute the spring arm. The

outer ends of the shafts 58 carry beveled pinions 59 that mesh with larger gears 60 that-.arel secured to the stub axles upon which the traction wheels are mounted. In this construction, we prefer to arrange the spring seat so that the spring is' disposed beneath the` two part spring arm and each end of said spring is connected by a shackle 61 to the lower'end of a short rod 62 that is ar- "3Q,

ranged for sliding movement through a'fixed bearing 63 on the end of the spring arm.`

' relatively simple form of mechanism foi' permitting diiferential movement betweenl the driving sprockets 40.

In this construction, the inner faces of the hub portions 39 of the sprocket wheels are provided with face gear teeth 67 that are engaged by the teeth of pinions 68, the latter being journalled on pins 69 that are seated in the driving hub 70 or its equivalent. Y

This arrangement operates under the well known principles of a differential gearing and permits a certain degree of differential movement between the driving sprocket wheels 40.

Thus it will be seen that we have rovided a four wheel traction unit that 1s relatively simple, strong and rugged in structure, said unit having simple A'and positively acting. means associated with 'its driving mechanism for automatically equalizing the tractive elfort between the four wheels, thereby minimizing tire (wear and roadway surface deterioration, said unit being constructed So as to effect a materiall reduction in un'sprung weight.

Obviously, minor changes in lthe size,

form and construction of the various parts of our improved four wheel equalized traction unit may be made and substituted for those herein described without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim-as our invention:

1. In a traction unit a main cross member, a pair of articulated side. members, the parts of which are mounted to swing through vertical arcs having a common axis on said main cross member, wheels carried .by both parts of each side member, means for imparting drivingmo'vem'ent to said wheels, means lforming apart of said driving connections whereby the wheels may operate independently of each other, and a spring mounted for rocking movement' above each side member and arranged to resist ulpwarl swinging movement ofthe parts t ereo 2. In a tractionk unit a' maint croissanember, a'

pair .of articulated side membe Y the parts of which members are arran v toLswng through vertical. arcs having a a pair of side members,

. Journaled on said trunnions,

ring means joperate indepen y l v l common axis on said main cross member, a

spring seat mounted to rotate about an axis coincident with the side member, and a spring carried bysaid spring seat for yieldingly resisting the upward swinging movement of the-parts comprising said articulated side member.

3. In a traction unit, an articulated frame comprising a main cross member and two pairs of side members, that are pivoted on said main cross member, naled on said -rame and mounted for independent vertical and rotary movement, means for imparting driving movement to said wheels, and means forming a part of said .driving means forl permitting each wheel to rotate independently ofthe other wheels.

v 4. In a traction unit,ay transverse member provided with trunnions near its ends, 'each formed in two parts with the inner ends of said parts journaled on said trunnions, a spring mounted for rocking movement above each side member for ieldingly resisting the upward movement o the end portions of the arts of said'side member, and traction w. eels adjustably carried by the outer end portions of the parts of each side member.

l 5. In a traction unit, a transverse member provided with trunnions nearits ends, a pair of side members, each formed in two parts with the innerv ends of saidparts journaled on said trunnions, a spring mounted for rocking movement above each side member for yieldingly resisting the upward movement of the end portions of the parts of said side member, traction wheels adjustably `carried by the outer end portions of the parts of each side member, and means for 'imparting drivingimovement to said wheels. v 6. Ina traction. unit, a transverse member provided with trunnions near itsends, a pair of side members, each formed in two parts with the inner ends of said parts a spring mount ed for rocking movement above'each side'4 member forI ieldingly resisting the upward movement o the end portions ofthe parte of said side member, traction wheels adjustably carried by the outer. end portions of the parts of each side member, means four wheels jour-4 :for imparting driving 'movement to saidl wheels, and means associated with said drivfor dperniitting each wheel to `7. In a four wheel equalized traction unit, a pair of articulated springgarm's, each arm being. formed in two 'parte andv said parte being mounted forA independent vertical swinging movement, naled Von each part o each arm, means for driving said wheels, automatically equalizing mechanism forming a part of said drivingently of the other wheels.

a traction wheel jourmeans for permitting any one wheel to ro-l'upwardswinging movement of the parts of Y tate at a higher rate of speed than its com4 said spring arm. v panion wheel while traversing, uneven y' In testimony whereof we aix our signa- '10 surfaces of the roadway, a spring seat tures.

5 mounted for rocking movement adjacent to f each spring arm, and a spring mounted on JRICHARD L. OWEN.

v said seat and arranged to yieldngly resist ELMER H. BABEL. 

